Superspace analysis of local Lorentz and gauge anomalies in the heterotic string theory

Abstract

Local Lorentz and gauge anomalies in the sigma model describing the propagation of the heterotic string in an arbitrary background field are discussed in the superspace formulation. An expression for these anomalies is written down in terms of the superfields, and is shown to cancel against an anomalous variation of the antisymmetric tensor field. World-sheet supersymmetry is manifest throughout this analysis.